Weston Theatre Company Welcomes New Staff Members

The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company has announced that Arts Consulting Group, Inc. (ACG) has been engaged to provide transition management services and that Lesley Koenig will fill the role of Interim Managing Director for the organization. The theatre company also announces the appointment of Amy Bannon as Capital Campaign Administrator. The new staff members began their duties on November 4.

Lesley Koenig joined Arts Consulting Group in February 2013 with over ten years of senior executive experience managing performing arts organizations and a twenty-year career as an opera director and producer. As General Manager of the San Francisco Ballet, she managed the opening of over 63 new productions and acquisitions, authored and implemented the company's five-year strategic plan, and managed the purchase and design of several properties.

Ms. Koenig subsequently returned to the Metropolitan Opera where, at age 23, she had been the youngest director in its history, as Assistant Manager - Production / Director of Production. During the most prolific seasons in the Met's history, she oversaw every aspect of the mounting of ten new productions and eighteen revivals per year. Most recently, Ms. Koenig was General Director of Opera Boston and accepted a Fellowship at Stanford University's Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society.

"We thank ACG and welcome Lesley as we enter our 78th season," stated Steve Stettler, Producing Artistic Director of Weston Playhouse Theatre Company. "We have a dynamic year of theatre ahead and realize that we need experienced performing arts management guidance to ensure that Weston Playhouse continues to perform at the highest level."

"Helping arts and culture organizations reach their potential and thrive is an honor, and that's what ACG does across North America," said Ms. Koenig. "With experience as both an artist and a manager, I relish this opportunity to work with the terrific team at Weston Playhouse and to help them advance their organizational and artistic success."

Amy Bannon has more than twenty years experience in the fields of non-profit and project management, journalism and communications. Former Executive Director of the Vermont-based non-profit group Volunteers for Peace, she holds a Law Certificate from Pace University and a BA from Western Connecticut State University. She and her family are long-time residents of Weston and fans of the theatre company and its programs.

"We're delighted to have Amy join our team as we gear up our capital campaign for its crucial final phase," remarked Stettler. "Her management expertise and knowledge of our work and our community will be invaluable as we raise the funds to create year-round use of a new Studio Theatre on the Walker Farm property in Weston."
The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company is Vermont's oldest professional theatre company. An award-winning regional theatre known nationally for its multi-stage summer festival and its year-round Education and New Works Programs, the theatre company is currently in the midst of a capital campaign to preserve the Walker farmstead in Weston as a year-round center for play development. www.westonplayhouse.org.